Australian Airlines bans use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Bans use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Australian airlines Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have told passengers not to power up or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on its planes.

Qantas told Reutersin a statement that “We are requesting that passenger who owns them for not switching on or charging them in flight.”

The ban may get a low wider as the FAAis reportedly considering its options. A spokesman told Gizmodoby email that “By the manufacturer, if the device is recalled, airline crew and passengers will not be able to bring recalled batteries or electronics contains recalled batteries in the cabin of an aircraft or in carry-on and checked baggage.”

Of course, Samsung has already recalled the device but it didn’t do it in the usual manner. Instead of arranging it officially through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC). CPSC itself does the recall. For that move, Consumer Reports specifically called out Samsung and according to Recode, the CPSC considers making it more official.

With the recall and the fact that Galaxy Note 7 sales have been stopped just two weeks after it shipped, the ban won’t affect too many folks. Nevertheless, there are still some reports between 1 million and 2.5 million devices in the world and many of them may wait to do the exchange.

Airlines blocked the usage of mobiles of their own accord, given the obvious potential for catastrophe. This is the better thing done by the airlines. Even so, Samsung has clearly created some confusion by going through official channels. So this may be the time for authorities in the US and elsewhere to step in.